Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy pleads guilty in corruption probe

One of 20 current and former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies facing corruption and civil rights charges pleaded guilty Monday to a weapons violation.

Deputy Richard Piquette entered the plea to manufacturing a short-barreled rifle, a charge carrying a possible federal prison sentence of up to 10 years and a $250,000 fine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee set Oct. 8 for sentencing.

Piquette was charged in December with illegally building and possessing an unregistered Noveske Rifleworks N-4 .223 caliber rifle with a barrel length of less than 16 inches.

Piquette, who is currently on leave from the Sheriff’s Department, was previously assigned to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility.

The remaining 19 current and former sheriff’s deputies have pleaded not guilty to various offenses stemming from a federal probe of activities inside county jails.

The first jury trial in the corruption case is scheduled to begin today.

Deputy James Sexton faces charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice for what federal prosecutors describe as an elaborate effort to interfere with an FBI probe of activities inside county jails.

Immediately following the verdict, six other deputies will stand trial on the same charges.